Away from football, Jernigan is usually quick to flash a full smile and release bellowing laugh. But on the field, the scary man comes out.

Teammates will poke and prod Jernigan before or during games, telling him that opponents are talking about him and his family.

"We definitely try to egg him on a little bit. Try to get him mad," FSU running back Karlos Williams said. "Because when that beast is released, it's a show man. It's just a show."

Built like a silo, Jernigan is dominating opposing linemen this season. He is a key cog on a Seminoles squad that is second nationally in scoring defense and fifth in total defense. No. 2 FSU (11-0, 8-0 ACC) plays at Florida (4-7) Saturday at noon. The game will air on ESPN.

Playing at Florida will be weird for Jernigan, who grew up a UF fan. Lake City, Jernigan's hometown, is 45 minutes away from Gainesville.

"My mama is a, well was, a die-hard Gator fan. A lot of my family members, a lot of my friends are," Jernigan said.

At one point in his recruitment, Jernigan seemed like a lock to go to Florida. But when Urban Meyer left, it opened the door for the Seminoles.

Jernigan, considered one of the top defensive tackle prospects in the country by multiple recruiting services, played immediately for FSU. While productive the past two years as a rotational player, Jernigan has thrived this season as a starter.

"His attitude, the way he gets off the ball …me personally, I haven't seen anyone inside pass rush the way he pass rush, or has the attitude he has," Casher said.

Jernigan has 43 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, despite normally playing just the first half of games.

Mild mannered, Jernigan says something happens to him when he puts on the football helmet, something he cannot quite describe.

"It just happens," Jernigan said. "When you walk through that tunnel, if you're not ready to play, something is wrong."

Jernigan (6-2, 292) becomes ferocious, bent on creating as much havoc as possible.

That's even the case in practice.

"It's kind of scary to chip Tim," Williams said. "He kind of gets upset and the next play we get the ball, he'll probably tear our head off. So, we've got to be cautious about that."

What makes Jernigan so effective is his raw power and improved technique.

"Put him up against anybody pound-for-pound in the weight room and you'll know. He's probably the strongest player on this football team," FSU offensive lineman Cam Erving said. "You're not going to find an offensive lineman that's pound-for-pound stronger than Timmy Jernigan."

Idaho found that out the hard way.

This past week, Jernigan ripped through double teams and shoved Idaho linemen around en route to gathering six tackles, 2.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss in just the first half. At one point, Jernigan used an Idaho lineman to barrel into a Vandals runner and record a tackle.

"Yeah," Jernigan says with a bellowing laugh, reflecting on the image of him using another player as a tackling aid. "… I did."

Teams have tried double-teaming Jernigan throughout the year, with little success. The Seminoles surrender just 3.13 yards per carry, which is 12th nationally.

"If they double-team him, they can't double team everyone on the defensive line," Casher said "If they double-team him, it frees up other linemen to get plays. Everybody gets to eat."

That is how the scary man measures his worth.

"I feel like it's almost disrespectful if you don't double team me every play," Jernigan said. "I feel like that's saying something if you feel like you don't have to double team me."